This long but rewarding detour was inspired by our older son, who had visited Belfast a few months earlier and strongly recommended the Black Cab “Troubles” tour, describing it as one of the most impactful experiences of his trip. Although the Troubles officially ended with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, their legacy still shapes daily life in Belfast. Physical barriers continue to separate Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods, with gates that close each evening.

On this day of the Ireland portion of our journey, we traveled from Kenmare to Kilkenny, making our first stop in Cork. We rang the bells at St. Anne's and sampled delicacies from the English Market in Cork before spending the remainder of the day in Kilkenny, the Medieval City. In Kilkenny, we explored Kilkenny Castle, strolled along the Medieval Mile, climbed the Round Tower, and had some pints in an Irish pub while enjoying traditional Irish pub music.

The Ring of Kerry is a 111-mile scenic drive is located in southwest Ireland, where the coastline is occupied by tiny picturesque villages and breathtaking views from dramatic cliffsides. The drive can be done all in one day with time left over to see the Muckross House in Killarney.

Driving the Dingle Peninsula is a "must do," in Ireland. True, we had perfect weather, but it is hard to imagine a more beautiful part of the Country. From Galway, we made our way down to the Dingle Peninsula where we made five stops in total: Clogher Head (Ceann Sraithe), Donquin Pier, Coumeenole Beach, Dingle Sheep Dogs (experience), and the Town of Dingle.

Our first day in the Irish countryside involved a scenic drive from Dublin to Galway. Upon arriving in Galway, we took a delightful walking tour through Galway's Medieval Old Town, where the vibrant streets were filled with colorful shopfronts and lively street performers. After exploring the town, we treated ourselves to the best fish and chips of the whole trip. We next drove out to see Ireland's famous Cliffs of Moher. The dramatic cliffs, rising majestically over the Atla

Having heard so many great things about Ireland's countryside and tiny villages, we decided to stay just one day in Dublin. To make the most of our limited time in Dublin, we stayed within walking distance of Temple Bar and all the other sites we visited that day, including St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College, Marsh's library, and Dublin Castle. In the evening, we ordered pints and listened to live music - the first of many similar nights in this joyful country.